have eyes in the back of one's head

Meaning: To notice everything, even what happens behind one's back.

Example: “Don't try passing notes in Mrs. Okafor's class; she has eyes in the back of her head.”

Origin: Old in idea: the Roman playwright Plautus, in Aulularia, has a character with eyes even in the back of her head. In English, the comedy Gammer Gurton's Needle (around 1565) says of someone that she "hath an eie behind her."

Equivalents in other languages

French: Ne pas avoir les yeux dans sa poche Literally: Not to have one's eyes in one's pocket

More English idioms

watch one's step To be careful how one behaves, to avoid trouble.
have a lot on one's plate To have many tasks or problems to deal with.
mend fences To repair a damaged relationship after a disagreement.
play one's last card To make a final attempt, using the last resource one has.
take potshots at To criticize someone in a casual, unfair or opportunistic way.
go underground To go into hiding or begin operating in secret.

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Equivalents in other languages

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